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I have observed people with varying levels of social interaction. I’m talking about adults, not children. What exactly does broad social interaction do for a person? What happens when a person has little to no social interaction, or narrow, and limited social interactions?

What constitutes good social interactions? Does good social interaction contribute to mental health? What constitutes bad social interaction?

Is having increasingly less social interaction a bad thing in a persons life?

How does this apply to Christians?

I heard someone recently observe that addiction is lack of meaningful social interaction. I think there is truth in that.

barnhart wrote: ↑Wed Aug 23, 2023 10:17 pm I heard someone recently observe that addiction is lack of meaningful social interaction. I think there is truth in that.

I don’t know. A lot of binge drinking is extremely social.

mike wrote: ↑Wed Aug 23, 2023 7:39 pm I have observed people with varying levels of social interaction. I’m talking about adults, not children. What exactly does broad social interaction do for a person? What happens when a person has little to no social interaction, or narrow, and limited social interactions?

What constitutes good social interactions? Does good social interaction contribute to mental health? What constitutes bad social interaction?

Is having increasingly less social interaction a bad thing in a persons life?

How does this apply to Christians?

Without being droll, my experiences inform me that there is one answer to all of your questions: it varies.

If you think on it, God made us and made us all individuals. While all humans share some needs (food, sleep, water, God) there is a variety of differing needs within the subset known as human socio-emotional domains.

Some examples may be drawn from the Bible and vocations for serving God. They can then be extrapolated into larger society:
-Monastic vocations that emphasise silence within a monastery are attractive to introverts.
-Religious orders that draw the extroverted personalities also engage in active apostolates.
-Marriage can accommodate both the introvert and the extrovert.

The Bible reiterates the variety of callings/personalities among those who seek discipleship. One of many such chapters can be found in Ephesians 4. Another is the story of Mary and Martha while Jesus was teaching.

My short reply: it varies by one’s calling and one’s personality type. God knows our frame and will provide for us according to our needs.

In the world, church is social.

In the CM, church is volunteering or continuing as you were raised.

The CM is generally horrible at socializing with outsiders. They have the Sunday meal down pat, but act as though socializing outside of that shouldn’t be expected while they continue with the family and the extended family for work and general interactions throughout the week.
The seeker volunteers to give up their prior social life, binds themselves by rules, serves as various positions in the church, takes communion and that’s about it.
It’s no wonder so many end up lonely and leaving as they can’t hold to the course walking alone.
Oh and that digital experience using WhatsApp, cloudveil or whatever, that’s not socializing and it just reduces face to face opportunities.

mike wrote: ↑Wed Aug 23, 2023 7:39 pm I have observed people with varying levels of social interaction. I’m talking about adults, not children. What exactly does broad social interaction do for a person? What happens when a person has little to no social interaction, or narrow, and limited social interactions?

What constitutes good social interactions? Does good social interaction contribute to mental health? What constitutes bad social interaction?

Is having increasingly less social interaction a bad thing in a persons life?

How does this apply to Christians?

Good topic. I look forward to reading the replies.

Had some time to ponder this. I think it will depend on the personality. I know people that are happiest in their own company and would rather not have people around. And I know folks that are total social butterflies and crave interaction.

I also know people who like to be around others, yet care not to participate in the surrounding discussion. They are content to just listen.

Soloist wrote: ↑Thu Aug 24, 2023 6:50 am In the world, church is social.

In the CM, church is volunteering or continuing as you were raised.

The CM is generally horrible at socializing with outsiders. They have the Sunday meal down pat, but act as though socializing outside of that shouldn’t be expected while they continue with the family and the extended family for work and general interactions throughout the week.
The seeker volunteers to give up their prior social life, binds themselves by rules, serves as various positions in the church, takes communion and that’s about it.
It’s no wonder so many end up lonely and leaving as they can’t hold to the course walking alone.
Oh and that digital experience using WhatsApp, cloudveil or whatever, that’s not socializing and it just reduces face to face opportunities.

No kidding. Ernie has talked a bit about this.

It does help when people go to a mission. They usually come back more willing to visit with seekers. In fact, virtually everyone we visit with either has been in the mission, is ordained, or else is someone who also has no family locally in the church, so they must end up socialising with people who aren’t family.

I know various people that spend most of their time pretty isolated, and who spend a lot of time watching TV or on the internet, and like social media, this is just not the same as real social interaction. I have wondered whether this lack of social interaction contributes to eccentricities in beliefs, perspective, and life habits. Sometimes I think people just get strange during isolation. And yet, there are also certain kinds of creativity that seem to happen best in isolation. My life is about as opposite from social isolation as it can get, and I feel pulled in so many directions simultaneously so much of the time that I wonder if that can be unhealthy as well.

I think it’s hard to make clear judgements on the right amount of socialization because it varies so much from one person to another.

That being said, I think the amount of socialization that many conservative Mennonite churches create just with church obligations is overwhelming for some people.